A Very Brief History of the University of Miami

In 1916, William Jennings Bryan suggested the formation of the "Pan-American University" in Miami. It wasn't until April 8, 1925, that the University of Miami was granted its charter, and Coral Gables was chosen as the site for the University. The first cornerstone was laid on February 4 of that same year. After receiving pledges in excess of $8 million UM leased an uncompleted hotel to use for its administrative and classroom building. More than half of the donations, as well as some 160 acres of land, was donated personally by George E. Merrick, founder of Coral Gables (as a freshman, the question as to why so many things are name after this man on the campus, crosses your mind).

However, the University was not to open anytime soon, as on September 17, 1926, the devastating Hurricane Kate hit South Florida, leaving over 10,000 homeless and some 130 people dead. Things were not looking bright for the University of Miami. On October 15, 1926, the University of Miami opened its doors to its first students, the very first of which was Francis Houghtaling, who is also known for fathering Iron Arrow, the highest honor attainable at the University of Miami. Joining him were 560 other students. The University of Miami was given the name "Cardboard College" because of the partitions used to separate classes. On October 23, the all-freshman football team won their first game, and the name "Hurricanes" was used for the first time, as well as the establishment of the school colors; burnt orange, Biscayne green and white. On November 3, the Board of Trustees elected Dr. Bowman Foster Ashe as the University of Miami's first president. That same month, nine students met with Dr. Ashe about founding an honor society that would recognize those who reflected the ideals and spirit of the University of Miami based on the traditions of the Seminole Indians.

1927 saw the emergence of the University News (now The Miami Hurricane), the first Ibis yearbook, and the first six students that comprised the graduating class. Added to the existing College of Liberal Arts, School of Music, and Evening Division were the School of Law in 1928, School of Business Administration & School of Education in 1929. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 caused the bottom to fall out of the land boom in Florida, and $15 million in donations were never received, causing students to go door to door to solicit funds to keep the University of Miami alive. Dr. Ashe convinced the faculty and administration to go without salaries until the university was back on its feet. In 1930, 30 graduates of the University of Miami established the Alumni Association, and the University of Miami radio station began broadcasting. 1931 saw the first Homecoming celebration. In 1933, financial difficulties forced UM to file for bankruptcy on August 7, 1932, but was rescued by Dr. Ashe's brainchild of forming a corporation to buy back the University's property. In 1933, the marching band was formed. In 1937, the now-called Orange Bowl was dedicated. World War II brought an unexpected time of growth for the University of Miami, beginning in 1940 with its accreditation by SACS, the founding of a Marine Laboratory, and the arrival of troops for training. In 1941, the Graduate School of International Studies was created, and in January of 1942 social events were canceled because of the war. A gift of land to complete a 245 acre area in Coral Gables was donated by Grace R. Doherty, and Dr. Ashe announced plans to build a new campus.

In 1946, Winston Churchill was conferred an honorary doctorate in Law at the Orange Bowl. In the same year, classes at the south campus began, and saw the completion of the Oscar E. Dooley Memorial Classroom Building. The School of Engineering was created in 1947, and 29 other buildings were approved to be built on the campus, including the excavation of Lake Osceola (Asi-yaholo). 1948 saw the completion of the Merrick Building and its rededication. 1949 was a record year for enrollment, and UM made history offering the first Human Relations major.

If you ever wondered how the band got its name, its was given by the announcer at the Orange Bowl as the band was about to play "Man of the Hour". In 1950, the Student Union opened. After much campaigning by The Hurricane, the first faculty evaluations were carried out. UM created the first School of Medicine in 1952, and a $1/2 million radar was installed in 1953 atop the Merrick Building. The next year welcomed the second president of the University, Jay F. W. Pearson. In 1956, the first computer was installed in Engineering, and the construction of the Panhellenic Building began. Sebastian (originally Icky) appeared for the first time in 1958, and the first master plan for the main campus was conceived. Doctoral programs began in 1959, and the first Honors Day was held in 1960.

In 1961, racial barriers were removed from the admissions process, and the first black students attended UM in the summer. Dr. Henry King Stanford was appointed to presidency in 1962, UM's third president. The Faculty senate was organized the same year. The Marine Laboratory was completed the next year, making it the third largest in the world at the time. In 1965, the fist wave of recruitment began for international students, with the creation of the International Club (now the Council of International Students and Organizations). Dr. Butler begins his term as VP for Student Affairs. In 1966, the International Club held the first Pan-American Week (the beginnings of International Week). In 1967, the first of the four towers of the Hecht-Stanford Residential Complex was completed, and the administration approved coed housing. On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated, and classes were canceled so students could attend the memorial service the following day. On November 13, a gift of $12.2 million from Lewis S. Rosenstiel secured the creation of RSMAS.

In 1970, women were finally allowed to visit the fraternity houses. A lack of fans and funds in 1971 suspended the Basketball program, and in 1972, the Rathskeller opens. In 1973, the first female athletic scholarships in higher education were awarded, Mark Light Field was dedicated, and the distinctive split-U was designed. The same year, Iron Arrow was severely hit by HEW for not admitting women and being demeaning to Native Americans. The same year also saw the Financial Aid office became computerized (at last!). The President's residence was donated in 1974 by Malcom Matheson at 8565 Old Cutler Road. In the same year, the first woman is initiated into ODK. The following year, the Lane Recreation Center was opened. In 1976, because of the Iron Arrow's refusal to admit women, President Stanford is forced to throw Iron Arrow off campus, and sever ties with the group, while Mortar Board tapped its first male members. In 1978, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Nobel Laureate, joins the University of Miami faculty.

President Edward Thaddeus Foote II was appointed to office on December 4, 1981 . The following year, UM is elected into Phi Beta Kappa. In 1983, the School of Architecture was created, and Iron Arrow won the first part of its battle with HEW. However, the problem of not admitting women continues. On New Year's Day 1984, UM won its first national championship in football (repeated in '88, '90, '92, and 2002) and the first residential college opens its doors. On February 28, 1985, Dorothy Ashe-Dunn, daughter of Dr. Ashe became the first woman to be tapped into Iron Arrow, after the tribe had been off-campus for nine years. That year, the school of Communication was created, the Basketball program was brought back to life, and the current UM logo bearing the words "A Global University" was created. In 1986 the Honor Code and Honor Council were established, and Vinny Testaverde become the first UM player to win the Heisman Trophy. In 1990, UM started a campaign to raise $400 million in five years, which was exceeded 3 years later. The same year, both the football and baseball teams won their respective national championships.

In 1992 however, Hurricane Andrew, the most devastating natural disaster in the history of the US, greeted the University in the same manner as Hurricane Kate at its opening almost 7 decades earlier. This set the academic year off by 1 month and costs the university $13 million in damages. Gino Toretta won the next Heisman Trophy that season, but it also marked the start of our decline from football fame. That same year, after much coaxing by the SG and complaints by students, the University decided to change the organization of dining services, and contract a new service, Daka. This sling-shot the plans to re-vamp the entire University food service, leading to the building of the Hurricane Food court.

In late 1994, the Lane Recreation Center was torn down to make way for the new Wellness Center, the most advanced place of its kind in the country. The Wellness Center was completed and opened in 1996. The Bowling Alley, a long time tradition in the University Center was torn down to make way for the new Career Planning and Placement Center, and the main lounge was refurbished and a new Information Center created. 1994 also saw the biggest turnout for International Week ever. In 1998, the University of Miami was ranked in US News & World Reports as one of the nation’s top 10 universities for diversity.

In 2001, the University inaugurated its 5th president and the 1st female President, Donna E. Shalala, along with two National Championships – Baseball & Football. The same year, the Frances Wolfson building is dedicated and becomes the new home to the School of Communication. The university broke ground for the new Convocation Center as well. The Convocation Center was completed in 2002 and the basketball teams moved from playing in downtown Miami to the Gables campus.

In 2003, the University launched Momentum, the campaign for the University of Miami, with the purpose of raising $1 billion. In December 2004, the family of Leonard Miller announced a $100 million gift to the School of Medicine. This donation is the second largest donation to a Florida institution of Higher Education. To date, the Momentum Campaign has raised $800 million of the $1 billion goal by 2007.

Also in the Fall of 2004, with the help of a generous donation from the Miccosukee Indians of Florida, the University was host to the first President Debate of the 2004 Elections. The debates included several educational series on politics in the United States and a visit from the Dalai Lama.

Today, the University consists of 5 campuses, and boasts one of the top Marine and Atmospheric Sciences programs in the world, the largest Medical Campus in the United States and probably the highest ratio of Domestic to International Students. The Gables campus is consistently ranked one of the most beautiful in the country and the diversity among students is a top priority.